Where it all began for Thabo Mnyamane

Varsity Football will kick off with a bang on 27 July when eight of South Africa’s universities are set to do battle for the coveted trophy. A few mouthwatering clashes will set the tone for the next 10 weeks of hotly contested inter-university soccer matches. Defending champions, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) host two-time champions University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks) while last year’s finalists, University of Johannesburg (UJ) will travel to Bloemfontein to face Central University of Technology (CUT).

Thabo Mnyamane, who played for North-West University (NWU) in the 2013 Varsity Football tournament, became the first Varsity Football player to represent Bafana Bafana. The 24-year-old was spotted by PSL side Tuks FC during the inaugural Varsity Football season and subsequently signed with the Pretoria side.

“It was during the Varsity Football season in 2013 that I played on television for the first,” Mnyamane said. “Had it not been for the exposure that Varsity Football provided I would not have been scouted by any PSL team.”

Mnyamane went onto sign with fellow Pretoria PSL side SuperSport United following a brilliant spell at Tuks FC. But it was during his tenure at Tuks FC that former Bafana Bafana coach, Shakes Mashaba, selected him. He scored on debut in 2015 against Swaziland, making him one of only three players to do so.

“The platform that Varsity Football gave me changed my life and I would have never been where I am today had it not been for Varsity Sports. The amount of exposure that Varsity Sports offers the students is invaluable and creates a well-balanced environment for student athletes.”

The midfielder has been an instrumental player for SuperSport FC during their recent qualification for the Confederations Cup quarterfinal match against Zambia’s Zesco United, which will be played in September.